Boris Johnson: he too does the 'dear' thing

Thursday 28 April 2011 08.52 EDT
First published on Thursday 28 April 2011 08.52 EDT

Artist's impression of a photograph showing David Cameron (back row, second left) and Boris Johnson (front row, seated) while members of the Bullingdon Club, an elite Oxford dining group. Artwork by Paul Owen

The charge that David Cameron revealed Bullingdon Club instincts when seeking to belittle Angela Eagle by calling her "dear" yesterday is reinforced by Boris's tendency to use the word to female opposition London Assembly members at Mayor's Question Time at City Hall. The PM's former Bullingdon contemporary was eventually asked to kick the habit by the now outgoing Assembly chair Dee Doocey AM - City Hall's equivalent of the Speaker - whose crisp yet light touch has also curbed a little of the Mayor's copious gift for evasive verbosity.

Boris has deployed his "dears" in different ways from Dave and it's interesting to consider to what degree that reflects a difference in context and any difference between the two men's attitudes. Mayor's Question Time is a much longer and more leisurely affair than Prime Minister's Questions, providing less of the atmosphere in which anyone might tell someone else to "calm down," and I don't recall Boris's use of "dear" when addressing critical women in the chamber being preceded by that advice.

His approach is more gently patronising: an expression of strained yet indulgent patience spiced with a mildly presumptuous intimacy. Hence, "My dear Jenny," "My dear Joanne" and "My dear Caroline." When pleasantly upbraided by Doocey he responded with characteristic aplomb, first affecting a boyish confusion that endears him to some - some women included - before making a clever joke. "If I write you a letter..." That got a good laugh from the public gallery. He's all charm, the Blue Blond. But in his own way very Bullingdon too.